January 27, 2020 -

Coronaviruses  are a large family of viruses whose effects range from causing the common cold to triggering much more serious diseases, such as severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS, which can affect humans and animals, according to the World Health Organization.


5 U.S. Airports are now screening for the coronavirus:
  • Los Angeles (LAX), San Francisco (SFO), New York's John F. Kennedy (JFK), Chicago's O'Hare (ORD), and Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson (ATL).

U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have implemented enhanced health screening for travelers entering the United States on direct or connecting flights from Wuhan, China due to an outbreak of pneumonia caused by a novel coronavirus.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has also issued a Warning Level 3 Alert (Avoid Nonessential Travel) due to an ongoing outbreak of respiratory illness caused
by a novel (new) coronavirus that can be spread from person to person.


U.S. airlines issue travel waivers

American has two waivers, one covering  Wuhan  and one covering  Shanghai and Beijing , China, two major destinations. For Wuhan trips scheduled through March 31, travelers can request a refund even if they are holding nonrefundable tickets. For Beijing and Shanghai, travelers with tickets through Jan. 31 can change or postpone their trip without the usual penalties.

United's  waiver  covers travelers with tickets through March 29 and allows refunds.

Delta on Friday issued a  waiver  that covers two major destinations in China, Shanghai and Beijing. Travelers booked on flights to or from those cities through Jan. 31 can change their flights to as late as February without the usual penalties. Travelers who want to cancel their trip are eligible for a voucher in the amount of their ticket, though a change fee will apply when using it. 

Other Air updates:
British Airways: Clients travelling anywhere in China – including Hong Kong – are offering free date change or full refunds until February 23.
Singapore Airlines: Cancellation and change fees waived for all tickets issued before January 24 for travel to and from mainland China up until February 29
Thai Airways: Offering free date change and refund up until February 29
Cathay Pacific: Suspending flights to Wuhan until March 31 and waiving change and cancellation fees

CTM is monitoring updates and communicating with our travelers with travel plans to/from China.